ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: Shahnawaz Siddiqui, a photojournalist who had retired recently after serving daily Dawn for over 20 years, passed away on Sunday. He is survived by a son, a widow and numerous friends to mourn his death.

The sudden death of Siddiqui shocked the journalist community gathered at his residence to attend the walima reception of his son.

The late Shahnawaz Siddiqui, widely known among his associates and friends as “Mamoo”, had been a heart patient for the past several years and had twice suffered cardiac arrest earlier.

The third attack, which proved fatal, hit the frail Siddiqui Sunday afternoon and he was taken to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology where he died in the evening.

Unfortunately, he himself could not attend the walima reception of his only son, for which he had invited numerous friends and relatives with great humility for which he was known.

Siddiqui had begun his career in late sixties working with Hilal-i-Pakistan. Later, he joined daily Musawat.

After the suspension of Musawat’s publication, he joined Dawn Group of Newspapers in late seventies. As a staff photographer, he contributed in all the publications of Dawn Group, including Hurriyat, Dawn Gujrati, Herald, Star and Watan.

Siddiqui played an active role in the trade union activities of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist. He was also a driving force behind an association of press photographers and served in some key positions.

The funeral procession of Siddiqui will be brought out from his residence, 4598/C Daryabad, Gawalmandi, Rawalpindi on Monday at 10am and buried in Rata Amral graveyard.